A diverse collection of cars and motorcycles turned out at Brooklands Museum on 1 October to celebrate the motoring life of Bill Boddy MBE, the long-serving founder editor of Motor Sport magazine and dedicated saviour of the historic Weybridge track, who passed away on 7 July.
Boddy's special interest in Brooklands giants was acknowledged by the museum, which rolled out two of his favourite racing cars, the ex-Malcolm Campbell 1912 Lorraine-Dietrich ‘Vieux Charles Trois,’ and the Napier-Railton, Land Speed Record hero John Cobb’s legendary outer circuit record holder.
Special guests included Vanwall ace Tony Brooks who was particularly interested in the ex-Arthur Dobson ERA R7B. “I never came to Brooklands, but I remember watching Raymond Mays in ERAs at Shelsley Walsh before I started racing a Healey Silverstone,” recalled Brooks. Later, the distinctive white 2-litre voiturette made several rapid runs up the Test Hill and took part in a few ‘race starts’ on to the banking.
Boddy’s strong associations with the Vintage Sports-Car Club inspired a superb turnout of pre-war machinery, including C&SC columnist Alain de Cadenet’s ex-Donald Healey Invicta Low Chassis fresh back from a 5000-mile round trip to Switzerland. “It’s my favourite car now and much better suited to touring than my Alfa 8C,” enthused de Cadenet.
London dealer Gregor Fisken brought down his Bentley 3 Litre Speed Model and Formula Junior stalwart Duncan Rabagliatti arrived in his rare 1955 Arnott sports car.
Racing machinery ranged from a pair of Bugatti Type 35s to a raucous Norton International and the Donington Collection’s F1 Brabham-Repco while the Vauxhall Heritage Centre demonstrated its fabulous Prince Henry model, another favourite motor of Boddy. Bentley specialist Stanley Mann added to the action by demonstrating the famous Mother Gun racer on the banking.
